Automatic valve.



W. P. SKIFFINGTON.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.22. 1911.

1,148,805. Patented Aug. 3,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W.'P. SKIFFINGTUN.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

APPLICATION FxLED AuG.22.1911.

1,148,805. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Witwe-osea: vwamlo'c i AUTOMATIC vAIIvE.

masses'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug.y 3, 1915.

Application filed August 22, 1911. Serial No. 645,371.

T0 all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM RNSKIF-rING'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough ofManhattan', cityr of New York, in the county of'New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticValves, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein tothe accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to automatic valves, that is to say, to that classof valves which are adapted toeffect automatically a regulation of thefluids flowing. through them. Oneof the uses to which valves of thisgeneral type are adapted is to automatically regulate the amount ofsteamsupplied to a radiator in a steam heating system, and that is the'use to which I have shown my invention as applied, though it is to beunderstood that there, are other uses to which my invention isapplicable.

My present invention belongs `more particularly to that type tofautomatic valves in which action is intermittent.

One of the objectsfof my `invention is'to effect the automatic actuationof a valve by means of differences of pressure between the low pressureside of the valve andany desired source of pressure; for example,between the pressure in a steamheated radiator and that in the dischargepipe oreX- haust pipe leading therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide for regulation by theoperator of the valve orifices so as to regulate the automatic action ofthe valves as well, as to close the valves independently of theirautomatic action.

Other objects of my` invention' are simplicity, compactness andinexpensivene'sseof construction. f

@ther more particular `objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

My invention includes a valve the movements of which are automaticallyactuated by opposing fluid pressuresindependent of the inlet pressure. n

My inventionv also'7 'includes adjusting means acting independentlyofthe yautomatic means to modulate or regulatefthe quantityof fiuidpassing the valve' in a given interval of time'.

invention also includes a movable fluid-controlling part having twoindependent movementsfor controlling the flow of fluid, .wherebyv one ofthe movements may be rautomatically controlled` and the other movementymay be `effected by the operator to regulate and control the automaticaction of theyvalve.` d

My invention more particularlyv includes a valvev pistonhhaving alongitudinal fiuidcontrolling movement and also having a rotativefluid-controlling movement, the two movements being independent one ofthe other.

My invention also includes improved means for effecting fractionalcontroh affording a large range of adjustment ofthe valve as to thequantity of fluid permitted to pass through the valve in a given time. y

My invention also includes various details of constructionandcombinations of parts, asy will appear from the following description ofan embodimentthereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. y i Ishall now describey my invention with reference to these drawings andshall thereafter point out my invention inclaims. Y

Figure 1 is a central vertical section ofthe valve in` its most widelyopen position. Fig. 2 isfasiinilar view with the valve in automaticallyclosed position, ,the valve ypiston 'being at the ytop of the valvecylinder". Figs.

3 and 4l are transverse horizontal sections on kplanes indicated by thelines 3 8V and 1 -4 of Figs. l andy 2, respectively, as viewed fromabove. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on a planeindicated by theline5-'5 of Fig. 1 as viewed from above. Figs; 6 and 7 are 'elevationsof thevalve cylinder and piston Y13 in as'team'heating system,` for regulatingthe supply-of steam to the radiator. The V valve in the illustratedembodiment of my invention, has a casing or outer wall 14 provided withan inlet 15, to which the steam supply pipe 12 is shown as connected,and an outlet 16 shownv as connected to the raf diator 13. The body ofthe casing 14 is in its general shape cylindrical with the inlet 15 at ahigher level than the outlet 16, as shown, the bottom closure or lowerwall being formed integral withthe side walls of the casing andsubstantially at a level with the lower side of theoutlet 16. Withinthecasing14 is fitted a cylindrical liner or inner wall 17 which extendsfrom a point-near the top of the body of the casing 14` to a point,flush with the upper side of the outlet 16. At its upper end, the innerwall A17 is y provided with a slight flange which stationarily supportsthe inner wall 17 within the casing. It is to be noted that this mannerof supporting the liner 17` permits free longitudinal expansion andcontraction thereof relatively to the outer casing 14.

The casing 14 has a circular inletpassage or inlety throat -21surrounding the inner wall 17, and communicating at one side with theinlet' 15, as clearly shown in'Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Below the inlet throat21 and separated therefrom and below the lower end of the inner wall 17is an oppositely arrangedcircular outlet passage or outlet throat 22opening into the outlet 16, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Forconvenience, the construction is such V,that the inlet 15 enters thecasing at one side and vthe outlet 16 leaves the casing at the-oppo- Theinner wall 17 at diametri-V site side. cally opposite points thereofVshown as equally spaced from the inlet 15 has two `ports 23 shown as ofrectangular diamond shape with opposite angles disposed in vertical andhorizontal planes, respectively. The ports 23, the inlet throat 21 andthe inlet 15 have a common central horizontal plane. y l

A valve piston 25 controls the ports 23 and thereby controlscommunication between the inlet and the outlet. This valve piston 25constitutes. `a movable fluid-controlling part capable of twoindependent kmovements for controlling the flow of fluid through thevalve device, such valvepiston having a klongitudinal 'fluid-controllingmovement and also having a rotative Huid Surewall 17 and is free to movelongitudinally therein. The downward movement of the valve piston 25 islimited by a post 30 rising from an annular boss formed on the innerside of the closed bottom of the casing 14, upon which the post 30 isrigidly held in place by a screw plug 32. The valve piston 25 normallyrests on the post 30 by reason of gravity and is thereby supported atsuch a height that its lowerV edge is a substantial distance above thebottom of the casing so that pressure fluid mayfreelypass beneath it.

The upward longitudinal movement of the valve piston 25 is limited by abonnet 33 of the casing, which is screwed into the ltop of the body,closing the casing at the top and holding in place the inner wall 17.

The bonnet 33, the inner wall 17 and the bottom part of the casing forma cylinder within which the valve piston is reciproca-ied lin theautomatic operation of the va ve. l

To enable vthe yvalve piston 25 to be roi tated when desired and alsotofguard it against 'undesired rotation, a valve stem or valve spindle34 passes concentrically through the bonnet 33, a packed joint of abutsthe bonnet 33 and thereby holds the valve stem 34 in place.

The valve stem 34 extends concentrically with the inner wall 17 and thevalve piston 25 is mounted `concentrically on the valve stem and isprevented from rotating relatively to such stem by the feather 40, whichenters a corresponding groove in the piston 25, and the valve piston 25is free to slide p longitudinally on the stem 34. f Below the valvepiston 25, andV within the inverted cup formed by the skirt thereof, aV

combined cushion and pressure chamber is formed communicating withtheoutlet 16. At the top of the valve piston 25, an upper cushion andpressure chamber is formed betweenthe top of the piston and the bonnet33; A fluid-conveying duct 44 communicates with this upper chamber andleads from any desired location or source of pres- This fluid-conveyingduct 44 is shown as formed through the valve stemy 34 and the screw-plug32 at the bottom ofthe casing and at its lower end is surrounded by anipple 45, which may be connected to any desired means for controllingthe fluid pressure in the upper chamber. For drainage,

60 Y has beguntits upward movement so thatit when the valve piston is inlowerposition, a lateralfduct 46 enters `thelduct 44 fromy the chamberabovegthe valveL pistonnfuNearits upper end the `piston 125 has anannular f groove surrounding the .valve :stem and communicating with theductsf44 or 46 according as thepistonisat its upperor lower position,the Apiston tting .loosely on the valve'stem above this groove, topermitythe passage .of fluid, ybut fittingl closely, though movably,` thereonbelowsuch groove. kIn Fig. 8.ofthe drawings the nipple4'5 of thefluid-conveying ducty is shown asconnected, through a pipe 47 with anexhaustfpipeor discharge pipe 48 leading froml the vradiator 13.

then thevalve piston 25 is in lower po'- sition andy alsoiwhen it is inthe positionk of rotative adjustment shownin Figs. 1 and 3, with theports 27 4of kthe valveupiston in full communication with Lthe ports l23ofthe inner wall 17, the valve is most widely open and the greatestquantity ofliuidy can pass through the. valve in apgiven time. .Thevalve piston 25 is adapted yto ybe automatically moved longitudinallytoshift the ports of the piston 25 outof communication with the portsof` theinnenwall 1,7, and thusto entirely shut olf communication.betweenthe, inlet and outlet l'of the., valve, and is also' adapted to beaikitomaticallyfmovedlongitudinally inthe opposite directionvto restorethe valve piston 25 to a position `againper.- mitting such`communication. Also. the

f valve piston 25 is ,adaptedto be manual-lyrotatively adjusted to varythe extent of the communication permitted, and', rvif. desired, toentirely preventr suchcommunication or close the valve. 1 The valvepiston 251is subjected at its lower end to thepressure of the valveoutlet 16 and at its upper end to the pressure admitted ,at theL lowerend of the valve casing through the duct` 44. The Ipressure at the valveoutlet lltends to force the valve piston upward :tofclose` offcommunication between theinlet rand the outlet. Thismovement of thevalvepiston 25 occurs automatically when the fluid pressure lbelow thevalve piston; risessufiiciently to overcome the weight of the valvepiston, which has a gravity bia-s tothe open position, and sul'lieientlyalso to overcome-opposing pressure above the valve piston. Because ofthefact that in .thelowermost position of ythe valve piston 25 the`@annular upper end of the tubular post 30 is in contact with a portionofthe lower surface of such valve piston and to that yextent shieldsitfrom initial upward pressure,-the upward pressure onV the, piston 25.will be lsuddenly increased.y as soon as it will quicklycompletefsuchmovement tok its uppermost position shown 1n Fig. 2. In itsreturn or downward movement Ithe yvalve piston- 25y will be cushionedyby the liuid `in the lowerl chamber, such filuidbeing at the `pressureobtaining at the valve outlet.

In the practical application of the invention lillust-rated in theldrawings,y when the l:pressure of steam in the radiator `13 risessufliciently above the pressure in the discharge pipe48 this pressure inthe radiator is exerted beneath 'the piston valve k25 and moves thevalve piston 25 upward tothe uppermost position thereof shown in Fig. 2.0n the other hand, when the fluid pressure inthe radiator 13 fallssufficiently, due to the condensation y,of the steam therein, then by.reason of the weight of the valve piston 25; and also by reason ofwhatever downward pressure may be communicated to it from the dischargepipe 48, through the pipe 47.and duct 44, the valve piston 25 willdescendy to the communication-opening position asshown in Fig. 1. Thusthe valve piston 25l is automatically intermittently actuated by thedifference between the pressure within the.k radiator 13 and thepressure in the.discharge pipe 48.

- 4Thediseharge pipe 48 is provided, closev to the radiator 13, with anoutwardly-opening check-valve 49 which prevents a return flow of steamfrom. the discharge pipe 48 to the radiator 13 andpermits condensationoff steam in theradiator 13 to be carried to a point where there may be alower pressure in the radiator 13 than there is in the discharge pipe48, the valve of my present invention then automatically acting at theproper time to reopen communication between thel radiator 13 and thesteam supply ,of exhaustion in the discharge pipe 48 mayy be produced inany desired manner, such as by a wet vacuum pump 50 of usual or suit,-able construction.,A A usual thermostatic valve 51 is shown as connectedto the radialll) tor `13 and to the discharge pipe 48 for inii tiallyremoving the air from the radiator 13. yAsfthe valve v51 will bethermally closed when steam is flowing, it may be connected to thedischarge pipe 48 below or beyond the check-valve 49 from the radiator13, as shown in Fig. 8.

1n theposition of rotative adjustment of the` yvalve piston 25illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the valve piston will be alternatelyautomatically actuatedy fromthe` most widely open position shown inFigs. 1 and 3, to the completely closed position shown in Fig. 2,andviceversa. vRotative adjustment of the valve.- piston 25 will'lessenthe extent Ofcom- G0 pistonf25 be'rotated a little more than a of thestem S-ftin its packed joint. As the ports 27 in the piston 25 and thecorresponding ports 23 in the inner Wall 17 are equally l angularlyspaced, being shown as spaced 180o, a rotation of the valve piston 25from the Wide openposition, through an angular vdistance equal to thecommon angular dimension of each of theports, will close the ports,regardless of thedirectionof rotation of the valvepiston 25. fIntermediate degrees of piston rotation Will provide intermediateadjustment of the valvel 'ports,the diamond shape of the ports renderingthe adjustment. gradual from the most widely open to the completelyyclosed position. A position of greatly reduced communication ispshoWnin Figs. 6 and 7, Fig. 6 showing the automatically opened and Fig. '7the automatically closed position of the valve ports. This adjustmentshown. has been produced bythe rotation of the piston 25 in a countervclockwise Vdirection looking from the top from the most .Widely Vopen'posit-ion. Had the piston 25 .been Vrotatively adjusted in the oppositedirection, then the practical results would have been the same, rbecauseof the fact that theextent of the communication through the yports Wouldkhave been similarly gradually reduced. In

either case, the regulation will be gradual.

In any ofthe 4positions of adjustment, excepting of course thecompletely rotatively closed, the valve piston 25 Willr continue to ybeintermittently automatically actuated by the differences of fluidpressure as hereinbefore described, but as the total-area of the v portcommunication vbetween the inlet 15 and the outlet 1G is reduced by theadjustment just described,`the yrate of flow of,

steam into the radiator Willbefreduced after each communication. openingpulsation of the valve piston 25, with the Vdirect result ofacorresponding reduction ofthe quantity of steam consumed and the amountof heat radiated by theradiator. Any reasonable degreeof heatingregulation desired may thus be effected.' Y

If the valve piston 25 be turned' farther than required for the purposeof regulation, the steam Will be shut 0H Ventirely by the completeclosing of the ports. In the valve illustrated in the drawings, thisentire closing of communication between the inlet 15 and the outlet16Will take place if the valve quarter turn from its most Widely openposition, this result being dependent upon fthe angular dimensions ofthe valve `Sports.

Therefore, ;it is to bek noted that the saine movementbyfwhich 'theextent of communicationpermitted may be adjusted may also serve to closeoff communication entirely. i

Means kare provided for indicating .the position of rotative adjustmentofthe valve` piston 25. ASuch' means comprise a pointer .52 carriedw bythe hand'wheel k39 andcoperativetxvitha scale formed on the topv of aflange at 'theupper end of the body of the casing. 'As illustrated inFigs. 1, 2, 5.and8, the position of the pointer 52 indicates that .thevalve-is so rota-tively adjusted as to'epermit the passage of pressurefluid to a maximum extent When the valve piston 25 is in kpositionas'the pointer'is moved in either direction awa-y from either of thecompletely open positions. Any degree of intermediate adjustment maybexhad between the completely closed and the fullyopen ypositionsofrotativefadjustment. The duplication of theindicationsin diametricallyoppositepositions permits either set of indications to tbe used `as maybe mostv convenient v lIn operation-vvhen it is desired that no fluidshall pass through the valve, the pointer52 is Vset at Closed oranywhere beyond. When it' is desired that fluid shall pass, the pointer52 is set at Open,7 or at Veither sidethereof, according to the rapiditywith which it is desiredfluid shall be supplied through the -yalve, andwhen thus set or adjusted, fiuid Will vpass through and the valve Willbe actuated'automatically in the intermittent manner alreadyexplained'.` yBecause ofthe gravity bias of the valve vvpiston 25, ysuchpiston will be `initially in the` Alower or cfnmnunication openingposition, f

as shown linV Fig'. 1. vF luid in passing through they valve passes fromthe inlet 15 through the inlet throat y21, ports 23 and 27, piston cup'k26, beneath the piston skirt, through outlet throat 22vand outlet 16. Itwill know be understoody how automatic control` is effected by onefluid-'controlling vmovement of the; valve vpiston 25 and howm'anualcontrol` is eected by another iiuid controlling movement of'suchpistonL4 It is obvious that various modifications maybe made in theconstruction shown in the drawlngs and. abovel particularly described-Withinthe principle and scope of v my invention.` l f I claim:

l. A valve device comprising, in combination, a casing provided with aninlet and an outlet, a valve within 'the casing having two independentmovements for controlling fluid communication between the inlet and theoutletl and responsive to pressure at the outlet to shift such valvethrough one of these movements to communicationclosing position, meansfor initially shielding the 'valve from the valve-closing pressure atthe outlet and then as soon as the valve has begun its closing movementsuddenly increasing the total of such outlet pressure thereon so thatthe valve will be quickly shifted from the open to the closed position,means for applying pressure from any desired source in opposition tosuch outlet pressure to shift the valve to the open position, andindependent means for controlling the other of said independentmovements of the valve.

2. A valve device comprising a cylinder having a peripheral port, avalve piston forming a closure across the cylinder and reciprocative androtative in the cylinder and having a fluid passage beginning at theperiphery of the valve piston and forming through the port of thecylinder a communication independently controllable by reciprocative andby rotative movements of the valve piston, means for applying pressureat the outlet side of the device to` one side of the valve piston tomove the valve piston longitudinally to communicationclosing position,means for applying pressure fluid from any desired source to the otherside of the valve piston to longitudinally move the valve piston to openposition, a stop for the valve piston at the open position having asealing surface coperative with the adjacent surface of the valve pistonto shield the valve piston from communication-closing pressure of fluidat the outlet so that as soon as the valve piston has begun its closingmovement the total outlet pressure of fluid on the valve piston will besuddenly increased to quickly shift the valve piston from the open tothe closed position, and manually controlled means for independentlyimparting communicationycontrolling rotation tothe valve piston.

S. A valve device comprising, in combination, a casing having an inletand an outlet, a. movable valve within the casing arranged to be shiftedto open and close communication between the inlet and the outlet andresponsive to pressure at the outlet to be shifted thereby tocommunication-closing position, means for initially shielding the valvefrom the valve-closing pressure at the outlet and then as soon as thevalve has begun its closing movement suddenly increasing the total ofsuch outlet pressure thereon so that the'valve will be quickly shiftedfrom the open to the closed position, means for applying pressure fluidto such valve from any desired source in opposition to such outletpressure to shift the valve' to the openfposition, and manuallycontrollable means for controlling the extent ofk communication betweenthe inlet and the outlet.l

4. A valve n device comprising a casing provided with an inlet and anoutlet, vra valve in the casing having movement therein for controllingfluid communication between the inlet and the outlet and responsive topressure of fluid at the outlet to be shifted thereby tocommunication-closing position, means for separately and independentlyapplyingy valve-opening pressure of fluid to the valve in opposition tothe valve-closing pressure of fluid at the outlet to shift the valve tothe open position when such independently applied pressure of fluidovercomes the pressure of fluid at the outlet, and manual means forshifting the valve so as to control the extent of communicationpermitted between the inlet and the outlet by reason of thefluid-controlled opening and closing movements of the valve.

5. A valve device comprising a cylinder having a peripheral port, avalve piston reciprocative and rotative in the cylinder and having afluid passage beginning at the periphery of the valve piston and formingthrough the cylinder port a communication independently controllable` byreciprocative and by rotative movements of the valve piston, thecylinder being provided with end closures forming within the cylinder achamber at each end of the valve piston, a Huid passage leading from theoutlet side of the valve for admitting pressure fluid to one of the endchambers to effect a communication-closing longitudinal movement of thevalve piston, a fluid-conveying duct opening into the other end chamberfor admitting pressure fluid from any desired source to move the valvepiston longitudinally in the opposite direction, and means for manuallyimparting communicationcontrolling rotation to the valve piston.

6. A valve device comprising a cylinder having a peripheral port, avalve piston reciprocative and rotative in the cylinder and having afluid passage beginning at the periphery of the valve piston and formingthrough the cylinder portA a communication independently controllable byreciprocative and by rotative movements of the valve piston, thecylinder being provided with end closures forming within the cylinder achamber at each end of the valve piston, a fluid passage leading fromthe outlet side of the valve for admitting pressure fluid 4to 'oneof-theend chambers to effect a oome inunieation-olosing longitudinal movementmeans for manually imparting communica- 10 tion-controlling rotation tothe valve piston.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my` signature in presence of tWoWitnesses.

WILLIAM P. A SKIFFINGTON.

Witnesses l WM. AsHLEY .KELLY,

BERNARD CoWEN.

of the valve piston, a'fuid-conveying duet opening into the other endchamber for admitting` pressure fluid from any desired source to movethe valve piston longitudinallyy in the opposite direction, the 'valveniston also having a permanent bias tending to move it in this latterdirection, and

f Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each,y byaddressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

